COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTIONNamed after one of the famous ’front four’ trails on Mt. Mansfield, this I.P.A. is brewed in the English tradition of pale ales shipped from Britain, around Africa, to India. Those ales contained extra hops and a higher alcohol percentage, which both served as natural preservatives. This ale holds true to those original, defining characteristics. Formerly "National IPA".

Much thanks to grassrootsvt for this...
This is a tweaked and slightly reformulated house IPA...so if you’ve had it before and weren’t crazy about it, try it now and see what you think.
Appears a transparent light gold with a small, two finger, fluffy white head that slowly fades out. Little spots of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is similar to Spawn only toned down a notch. Perhaps Spawn, Jr.? Lots of citrusy, piney, wood-like hops, along with a sugary orange and caramel backing that plays second fiddle to the lively, aromatic hops.
Taste is of the same aromas. Plenty of hoppy goodness with orangy pine flavors standing out.
Mouthfeel is orangy sweet up front with a decent balanced bitter attack. Perhaps just a tad of thinness in the swallow that ends up slightly dry and bitter with some hops coming back to the front of the tongue for a bitter linger.
Overall, not a bad beer. This is a well done IPA that would make any brewer proud. Shaun has put together some really hoppy brews for the New England states...in fact most of them would be worthy of the California hop challenge anyday, where too much hops isn’t a bad thing. That’s the only thing that’s keeping this beer down...comparing it to his other brews that are hard to top. In essence, he’s his own rival. Is that a bad thing? I think not. New England’s finest plugging away one brew at a time.

Six pack from Julios. Pours out a light honey amber color. Inch thick head that sticks around a while. Good carbonation. Nice floral-spice aromatic aromas. Hop profile is grapefruit and spruce. Very satisfying but not overly thick or bitter or stricky. This could be my new "go-to" six pack.

Pours a nice amber color two finger head with heavy lacing. Hoppy grapefrit nose to it. Strong hops favor to this beer which tends to overwhelm the other flavors that are hidden suh as the nice citrus complexity. Worth a try if you’re a hophead. Which I am.

On tap at the brewpub. Pours a clear orange with a thick white head. Aroma of caramel malt, sweet citrus, tropical fruits, jam. Flavor is also very fruity with earthy fruits and jam (strawberry) plus sweet caramel malt. This IPA is more fruity than the other 2 IPAs I tried at Shed (Juggernaut and Sanity) and it also was my favorite. A very good IPA.
8/4/8/4/14 [3.8/5]

Poured a hazy amber color with a small, white head that left light lacing on the glass. Aroma of piney resin, grassy, and floral hops, with some citrus fruits as well. Taste of more grass, with some citrus fruits, toffee, pine, and a medium bitterness.

Sample provided by weeare138. Poured a medium amber color with a small sized white head. Aromas of pine, some citrus, and fruity. Tastes of pine, citrus with light caramel. Lighter bitterness with a medium sweet balance.

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